NAPLES, Fla. — With the start of the school year this week, the local district’s transportation department began sending its trainers to elementary schools to deliver an important message — safety — to kindergartners.

The School District of Collier County transportation trainers, who also instruct bus drivers, are presenting the big, yellow school bus to the new riders at their school. The trainers are covering the “Tips for School Bus Riders” section found in the “Are We There Yet? Staying Safe Between Home and School” guide that is being sent home with the students so they can share what they learned.

The interactive session focuses on teaching the first-time bus riders how to be safe and adhere to all of the rules, such as:

• Never picking up anything dropped under the bus

• Staying away from the 12-foot “danger zone” around the bus

• Always making sure the driver can see you

• Never walking behind the bus Kindergartners are practicing a school bus stop pickup in the school bus loop with the yellow and red lights.

The topic of stranger danger is also being covered. The kindergartners are taught to communicate with their bus driver and always ask questions or talk about any concerns.

To conclude the training session, the kindergartners receive the aforementioned guide and a “Be Cool, Follow the Rules” paper they can color that shows the proper way to depart the bus and the “no walk zone” around the bus.

The transportation staff is asking that parents reinforce the importance of bus safety and review the materials provided. Information is also available on the transportation department’s website.